uberti 1871 early model open top chambers

[eljay]

do the above revolvers have bored through chambers for the .38 long colt when stamped ".38 LC" on the barrel? or are they chambered with a throat for the .38 special? and if bored straight through, how accurate are they with .38 special loads? thanks.

[JohnsonBarr]

The throat is there for .38 S&W Special ammo but .38 Long Colt also chambers, albeit the slightly shorter .38 Long Colt has to jump a little to the throat. I find that the Colt cartridge accuracy isn't hindered much for cowboy shooting. Besides the idea of putting a S&W cartridge in a Colt and visa-versa has always bothered me. Years ago Uberti started boring their cylinders longer to accommodate multiple cartridge cases. For example: .45 Colt/ .45 S&W Schofield, .44 S&W Special/ .44 Colt and .38 S&W Special/ .38 Long Colt.

[Coffinmaker]

Perhaps a little more information is called for here.

The Open Top guns, early, late, on-time, et all.  The barrels are bored for .357 diameter cartridges.  The cylinders are chambered for .38 Spl cartridges.  Shooting .357/358 bullets.  With .379 bullets, there will not be a harmonious out-come.  It seems as if you are asking if
outside lubed, heal based, .379 diameter 38s can be used.  Not recommended.

Not to upset the apple kart, but almost from day one, Colt and Smith & Wesson have chambered their guns to use each other's ammunition.  The original Open Top was chambered for a proprietary Colt cartridge which was a dead wringer for the 44 Henry Flat Rim Fire and the Colt round was also Rim Fire.  I wouldn't let cartridge head stamps bother you.  After all, Colt's premium all time finest Double Action, the Python, was chambered for the .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum. 

Coffinmaker

[JohnsonBarr]

Please be advised; I use current production Starline .38 Long Colt brass loaded with .358" lead RNFP cast bullets in the modern .38 S&W Special chambered handguns. I am not aware of any currently produced modern hand guns chambered for the long obsolete .38 Long Colt heeled bullet cartridges.

[Pettifogger]

I'm not sure what we are talking about here.  Early vs. late Uberti?  I.e., late 1990s vs. 2017?  NONE of the commercial reproductions are made for antique spec Colt .38 ammo.  They are all made for the modern inside lube ammo and the .38 Colt brass sold by Starline which is just shortened .38 Special brass.  They do not have bored through chambers.

[eljay]

pettifogger, the reason for asking is that the berretta dealer here in Australia ( that's the big island down the south end of the planet, not the little country that gave us the glock) has a 1871 open top, described as stamped .38 long colt, early model, that has been returned as defective. what the problem is, I don't know, but it will be repaired and sold at a discount. the berretta "gunsmith" says he cannot test fire the revolver till he gets the correct ammunition, (I know, it will chamber .38 SC, .38 LC, and .38 special) would have thought that the dealers gun plumber would have more knowledge, but here in OZ, good smiths are thin on the ground. just needed to know about throated/non throated chambers and you have answered my question. thanks guys (and gals)

[Pettifogger]

pettifogger, the reason for asking is that the berretta dealer here in Australia ( that's the big island down the south end of the planet, not the little country that gave us the glock) has a 1871 open top, described as stamped .38 long colt, early model, that has been returned as defective. what the problem is, I don't know, but it will be repaired and sold at a discount. the berretta "gunsmith" says he cannot test fire the revolver till he gets the correct ammunition, (I know, it will chamber .38 SC, .38 LC, and .38 special) would have thought that the dealers gun plumber would have more knowledge, but here in OZ, good smiths are thin on the ground. just needed to know about throated/non throated chambers and you have answered my question. thanks guys (and gals)

With the problems you guys have my hat is off to everyone that is engaged in a shooting sport down under.

[Coffinmaker]

Tough enough hitting targets when yer right side up, but UPSIDE down??  Wow.  Sheesh.

Coffinmaker

[Abilene]

Tough enough hitting targets when yer right side up, but UPSIDE down??  Wow.  Sheesh.

Coffinmaker

Bob Munden was pretty good at it 

[Coffinmaker]

Naw Abilene,

Bob "held" the gun upside down.  Eljay "is" upside down.  Different ..... sorta.  I think ..... maybe.

Coffinmaker

[Abilene]

For ages they thought the earth was flat.  What if the South Pole is actually "up"   Do we need to orient up and down as to which direction points to where the big bang came from?

Okay, enough hijacking for me.